Strip jointing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Two ends of paper strip to be spliced are overlapped and aligned in grooves in blocks of a tape jointing machine. The ends are clamped in position over a fixed cutting edge. A pivotable cutting edge then cuts the strips. An adhesive tape is then applied over the cut edges within another groove aligned with the cutting edge and a roller tool presses the tape to join the ends and cut off waste portions. The device permits continuous operation of paper insulation machines.

United States Patent [191 [111 3,819,454 Mason June 25, 1974 [54] STRIP JOINTING APPARATUS 2,575,798 11/1951 Dain 156/502 X 44 l [751 Inverter: Mr Arthur Mason, London, 554233 311333 22212 156/ 3??? England [73] Asslgnee: 3 55;232:23 g gxfig g z Primary Examiner-William A. Powell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Menotti J. Lombardi, Jr.; [22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1971 Edward Goldberg [21] Appl. No.: 202,194

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Dec. 8, I970 Great Britain 58199/70 Two ends of paper Strip to be spliced are overlapped and aligned in grooves in blocks of a tape jointing ma- [52] US. Cl 156/505, 156/159, 156/523, chirm The ends are clamped in position over a fixed 156/545 cutting edge. A pivotable cutting edge then cuts the [51] Int. Cl. G03d 15/04 strips An adhesive tape is then applied Over the cut [58] Flew of Search 156/ l59r 506r edges within another groove aligned with the cutting 156/523" 545 edge and a roller tool presses the tape to join the ends and cut off waste portions. The device permits contin- [56] References cued uous operation of paper insulation machines.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,552,l48 5/1951 Carson 156/505 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUN25I974 5819,45 1

SHEET 1 OF 3 lnvenlor PETER A. MASON A Home PAIENTEDJUN25I974 38193154 SHEET 2 0F 3 43 4; a I Y W W? I 45 H ll! T 1 I ""f"? j @2 4 U 'U Inventor PE TER A. MASON A Home y PATENTEDJUNZSIHH SHEET 3 OF 3 7 Inventor PETER A. MA ON BYM A ltorney STRIP JOINTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for splicing the ends of strip material, in particular paper tape.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various methods and devices have been used in the past for splicing strips of material together. These methods are generally inefficient and require interruption of production processes. Typical devices of this type are shown in US. Pat. No. 2,998,843 issued Sept. 5, 1961 and No. 3,l55,562 issued Nov. 3, 1964, which utilize different known mechanisms performing portions of a complete production process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved efficient method and apparatus for splicing the ends of strip material in a continuous production process.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a novel method of splicing the ends of two pieces of strip material, including the steps of aligning an end portion of one piece of strip material over the end portion of the other piece of strip material, clamping the end portions in the aligned position, operating a pivotable cutting edge to position it over the aligned strip material and pressing it onto the aligned materials whereby the movable cutting edge co-operates with a fixed cutting edge, positioned on the opposite side of the strip material to the pivotable cut ting edge, to cut the paper strips with a scissor-like action, returning the pivotable cutting edge to its initial position, applying an adhesive tape over the cut edges of the ends of the strip materials to be joined, and utilizing a roller tool to firmly press the tape onto the strip material whilst simultaneously removing both portions of the adhesive tape extending beyond the extremities of the strip material by means of cutting edges on the roller tool engaging under pressure with cutting edges extending parallel to the edges of the strip material, releasing the clamped strip materials and removing the waste ends of strip material.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS line Y-Y of FIG. 2, with a tape-retaining clamp in the clamp on position; and

FIG. 6 shows a trimmer roller for use with the splicing device of FIGS. 1 to 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The paper splicing device shown in the drawings basically comprises two cutting blocks, an upper or first cutting block 1 and a lower or second cutting block 2, mounted on a base 3 in close proximity with one another. The first block 1 is rigidly fixed to the base 3, whilst the second block 2 is flexibly mounted by means of spring strips 4 to a pillar 4a which is rigidly attached to the base 3. Both cutting blocks 1 and 2 have chamfered, square-bottomed aligned grooves 5 and 6 respectively for the paper tapes (not shown) whose ends are to be spliced. The cutting block 2 is spring loaded by means of a spring 8. The base of each groove 5 and 6 is filled with a resilient material 7, for example rubber. There is a small gap 9 between the adjacent parallel edges 10 and 11 of the cutting blocks 1 and 2. This gap 9 is at an angle to the grooves 5 and 6, which angle is 35 in a preferred embodiment. The purpose of the resilient material in the base of the alignment grooves 5 and 6 is to ensure a reasonable distribution of pressure on the sheared sections of the tapes being spliced in the device. In order to reduce the area of poor adhesion of an adhesive tape used for splicing at the junction of the cutting blocks, the resilient material portions are brought together as close as possible at the gap 9 by mounting a fixed cutting edge 12 substantially under the resilient material 7. This can be seen from FIG. 4, which shows the fixed cutting edge 12 rigidly mounted on the fixed cutting block 1 just under the resilient material 7.

Two clamps l3 and 14 are provided for tape clamping purposes during splicing. The clamp 13 is also provided with a clip member 15. As can be seen from FIG. 5, which shows clamp 14, the clamps basically comprise a clamp arm 16, a clamp foot 17, a slide 18, a clamp release pin 19 and a retaining clip 20. The slide 18 extends through a slideway 21 in the cutting block 2. Clamp 13 is identical to the clamp shown in FIG. 5, except that it is also provided with a retaining clip 15 on the surface equivalent to 22 of the clamp arm 16. In FIG. 5 the clamp 14 is shown in the clamp on position, in which the clamp foot 17 is securely holding a paper strip 23 in conract with the resilient material 7. The ratio of the distance between the clamp foot and the slide, and the effective length of the slide way, is so chosen that once the clamp has been operated it is held in position by friction. Release of the clamp is obtained by manually lifting the release pin 19 in the direction shown by the arrow A, thereby overcoming the friction between the slide and the slide way. The clamp is maintained in the released position, as shown in FIG. 1, by means of the retaining clip 20 engaging with a bar portion 24 attached to the block 2 by screws 25. The clamps 13 and 14 are, therefore, simple self-locking clamps.

As previously stated, the fixed cutting edge 12 is rigidly mounted on the fixed cutting block 1. A second cutting edge 26, which co-operates with the edge 12, is provided on a cutting handle 27, which is also mounted on the fixed cutting block 1. The second cutting edge 26 engages with the fixed cutting edge 12 as the handle 27 is pivoted about its spring loaded mounting 28. The second cutting block 2 is movable so that when the cutting handle 27 is pivoted to bring the two cutting edges together, the second block 2 is deflected away from the fixed cutting edge. This is achieved by means of a camshaped portion 29 of the handle 27, which, during pivoting movement of the handle, acts upon part of the movable cutting block 2 and causes it to move away from the fixed cutting block 1. The cutting action obtained by co-operation of the cutting edges 12 and 27 is similar to that of scissors. Two stops 30 and 31 are provided in order to limit the movement of the movable cutting block 2.

Whilst the blocks 1 and 2 are provided with alignment grooves and 6 at an angle to the gap 9 between the blocks 1 and 2, they are also provided with stepped portions 32 and 33 respectively, which co-operate to form a chamfered square-bottomed groove 34 at the center of whose base is the gap 9. The bottom surface of this groove 34 is a relatively small distance from the base of the resilient material covered grooves 5 and 6. In alignment with the groove 34 is a dispenser 35 for a pressure sensitive tape, supplied in reel form. The tape supply reel 36 is spring loaded, by means of a spring loaded reel retainer 37, so that the outer periphery of the tape 38 on the reel rests against a small diameter peg 39 around which the tape 38 is pulled off the reel. This dispensing arrangement ensures jerk-free pull-off of the adhesive tape from its reel.

When the device is to be used for splicing paper tapes together, a reel of paper tape is mounted on a supply stand relative to the device such that the paper tape passes from the supply and over alignment pulleys 40 and 41, in the direction B shown in FIG. 1, clear of the clamps, alignment grooves etc. of the splicing device.

In a preferred embodiment the splicing device is mounted vertically with the pulley 41 uppermost and the paper tape supply beneath pulley 40, with the base 3 at a slight angle for ease of viewing and operation of the splicing device.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 2 and 2a, which show a paper tape supply arrangement in addition to the splicing device, in normal operation the paper tape on a reel positioned on the rotatable center 42 is unreeled and passes over pulleys 40 and 41 to another operating station, for example a forming die wrapping the paper tape around an electrical conductor. The next reel of tape to be used, and whose end is to be spliced to the tail end of the paper tape of the reel on center 42, is mounted on rotatable center 43 in readiness for a reel changeover operation. The free end of the tape reel on center 43 is hooked over the paper retaining cow horn 44, passes under the clamp foot 17 of the clamp 14 and is retained in clip of clamp 13.

The sequence of operations for splicing using the splicing device described above are as follows. Just prior to the reel on center 42 running out of paper tape, drive means removing the tape from this reel automatically stop. The operator of the device then actuates a lever, not shown, which causes the reel on center 43 to adopt the position previously occupied by the reel on center 42, the latter center then being in the position indicated at 45. This movement automatically aligns the end portion of the new reel with the end portion of the old reel, which is underneath it in the alignment grooves 5 and 6. The clamp 13 is then operated, that is pushed to the clamp on" position, to retain'the paper tape passing to the next operation station, whilst the clamp 14 is then operated to retain the two paper tapes coming from the supply positions.

The two paper tapes are pressed into the grooves 5 and 6 used to align them, and, whilst the operator keeps the new paper tape in tension with his right hand, the cutting handle is pivoted with his left hand in order to engage the two cutting edges in the manner of scissors to cut through the tapes. During cutting the bottom block 2 is displaced by the cutting handle. The cutting handle is then returned to its initial position, and the block 2 automatically returns to its initial position.

The end of the new tape held in the clip 15 is then discarded. Sufficient adhesive tape 38 is pulled off its reel 36 and laid across the cut paper tape ends in the alignment groove 34 provided. The edges formed by the intersections of the grooves 5 and 6 with the groove 34 form cutting edges, and when a trimmer roller 47, shown in FIG. 6, is rolled under pressure in the direction of the paper tape movement in the grooves 5 and 6 over the adhesive tape 38, and back again, its cutting edges 45 co-operate with the cutting edges formed by the intersection of the grooves 5 and 6 with the groove 34. A section of tape 38 is, therefore, sheared from the remainder of the tape and firmly pressed onto the paper strip ends in order to join them. Even pressure is applied to the tape by virtue of the resilient material 7. The waste ends of the tape 38 are removed, the clamps released, whereupon the free end of the old reel of paper tape falls away. The paper take-up mechanism is then restarted and as the paper tape starts to move it is automatically pulled out of the alignment grooves 5 and 6 and readopts the position indicated by the broken line passing over the pulleys 40 and 41 shown in FIG. 1. The nearly empty reel is then removed from the center 42, which is now at position 45, and a new pad put in its place. The end of this new pad is fed over the cow horn retainer arm 46 under the clamp foot 17 of clamp 14 and into the clip 15 of clamp 13. The paper tape on this new reel is then ready for the next splicing operation. In the next supply reel changeover operation, the center 42 returns to its initial position and the empty reel is moved to the position of center 43, where it is removed and replaced by a fresh reel.

In the preferred embodiment, all of the cutting edges, which are not sharp, have cutting angles of approximately It is to be understood that the foregoing description of specific examples of this invention is not to be considered as a limitation on its scope.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for splicing the ends of two pieces of strip material, including a first cutting block rigidly mounted on a base member and having a fixed cutting edge, a second cutting block adjacent the first cutting block but movably mounted on the base member and spaced from said first block to provide a gap between the adjacent edges of said blocks, a strip material alignment groove in each cutting block, said grooves being aligned with one another, said fixed cutting edge being mounted at an edge of said first block adjacent said gap, said gap being at an angle to the strip alignment grooves, a cutting handle pivotably mounted on the first block, said cutting handle having a cutting edge co-operable with said fixed cutting edge and adapted to perform a scissor-cut on any material positioned in the strip alignment groove and extending over the gap, during which cooperation the movable cutting block is deflected away from the first cutting block, said cutting blocks having stepped portions on respective sides of 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said tape applying and removing means includes a roller tool having cutting edges engaging the edges of said strip material alignment grooves.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said strip material dispensing means includes means for supporting a plurality of strip material dispensing reels and for selectively aligning said reels with said strip material alignment grooves. 

1. Apparatus for splicing the ends of two pieces of strip material, including a first cutting block rigidly mounted on a base member and having a fixed cutting edge, a second cutting block adjacent the first cutting block but movably mounted on the base member and spaced from said first block to provide a gap between the adjacent edges of said blocks, a strip material alignment groove in each cutting block, said grooves being aligned with one another, said fixed cutting edge being mounted at an edge of said first block adjacent said gap, said gap being at an angle to the strip alignment grooves, a cutting handle pivotably mounted on the first block, said cutting handle having a cutting edge co-operable with said fixed cutting edge and adapted to perform a scissor-cut on any material positioned in the strip alignment groove and extending over the gap, during which co-operation the movable cutting block is deflected away from the first cutting block, said cutting blocks having stepped portions on respective sides of said gap adjacent to and parallel with said gap, said stepped portions co-operating to form an adhesive tape alignment groove, clamping means for maintaining the strips in alignment during splicing, strip material dispensing means aligned with said strip material alignment grooves and adhesive tape dispensing means aligned with said adhesive tape alignment groove.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, including means for applying said adhesive tape to said strip material and for removing the portions of adhesive tape extending beyond said strip material alignment grooves.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said tape applying and removing means includes a roller tool having cutting edges engaging the edges of said strip material alignment grooves.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said strip material dispensing means includes means for supporting a plurality of strip material dispensing reels and for selectively aligning said reels with said strip material alignment grooves. 